Liner notes for "Moor Music".
1. KP's Jig/ the Rose Garden
Mark and Jason follow in Bob Cann's tradition in making their own tunes, a
couple of cracking jigs which I imagine will become standards in English music
sessions in the future. they were written in honour of the late Ken Penny
who encouraged them to look at new horizons and new audiences and was
instrumental in their first folk festival booking in Cornwall.
2. The Stein Song.
This march comes from the silver band tradition. Bob Cann learned it in his
youth at a village fair. Jason's grandmother (Jack's wife) remembers Bob playing
it for a pony to dance to at an early Dartmoor festival.
3. Christmas Morn
A favourite waltz of Jack Rice who learned it from a Jimmy Shand record. Jason
has fond memories of playing this tune with his grandfather.
4. Lady in the Boat/ Briarfield Jig/ (Ford Farm Reel)
A 'pot boiler' of a dance set, changing from jigs to reels. The first is also
known as the 'Bugle Quickstep" (EFDSS Fiddlers Tune Book) and was used for
the dance "The Washington Quickstep". The Second and third were
written by Bob Cann while the fourth came from his old musical companion Charlie
Bate
5. Russian Ballet/ The Hullichan Jig
The first jig here is named after a dance and the tune is often known as
"Hilly go filly go all the way" or "King of the Cannibal
Islands" and has been used as the tune for many popular songs. The second
tune became popular with many barn dances when published in the "Community
Dance Manuals".
6. Lyrinka
The waltz 'La Rinka' was a popular ballroom dance in the early part of the 20th
century and the tune became well jnown at Dartmoor dances as the tune for an old
fashioned waltz.
7. When It's night-Time in Italy/ Climbing up the Golden
Stairs/ The Thaxted Stairs
'When it's Night-time in Italy, it's Wednesday over here' is the full title of
the first reel which Bob Cann learned from a 78 and that is also the source of
the second, probably from the 1920's Frank Luther Zonaphone release. The third
is a brilliant new tune written by the inimitable Simon Ritchie of Thaxted in
Essex.
8. Tin Gee Gee/ Walter Bulwer's No 1
Jason learned the first polka from local band accordion player John Wilson and
it is the tune of an old Music Hall song. The famed Norfolk traditional fiddle
player is the source of the second and Mark and Jason learned it at their first
visit to an English Country Music Weekend.
9. Jolly Ploughboy/ Barren Rocks of Aden
(flute and uilleann pipes).With Cathal on flute, Christy plays these tunes on the pipes that once belonged
to William F Hanafin, a fellow Kerryman (see the historical notes). "The Holly
Bush" comes from Finbar Dwyer's accordion playing and the second reel from late
Eddie Duffy - the great flute player and repository of tunes from Derrygonnelly,
County Fermanagh, from Cathal learned so much.
10. Major Mackie Jig/ Uncle George's Jig/ The Blackthorn Stick
has a long association with the pipes, appearing in Volume 4 of O'Farrell's "Pocket
Companion for the Irish or Union Pipes", published in London between 1801 and 1810.
A New Year visit to Stromness, Orkney, at the end of 1977 gave us "The Stronsay
Waltz". Dave heard bill Halcro play it on his piano accordion as they went
first-footing around the houses and was immediately taken with it.
11. Crooked Stovepipe/ Jumping Cactus
(flute and uilleann pipes). With Cathal on flute, Christy plays these tunes on the pipes that once belonged
to William F Hanafin, a fellow Kerryman (see the historical notes). "The Holly
Bush" comes from Finbar Dwyer's accordion playing and the second reel from late
Eddie Duffy - the great flute player and repository of tunes from Derrygonnelly,
County Fermanagh, from Cathal learned so much.
12. Uncle Jim's Waltz/ Uncle George's Waltz/ Harry Gidley's Waltz
a long association with the pipes, appearing in Volume 4 of O'Farrell's "Pocket
Companion for the Irish or Union Pipes", published in London between 1801 and 1810.
A New Year visit to Stromness, Orkney, at the end of 1977 gave us "The Stronsay
Waltz". Dave heard bill Halcro play it on his piano accordion as they went
first-footing around the houses and was immediately taken with it.
13. The Trip to Gidleagh
(flute and uilleann pipes). With Cathal on flute, Christy plays these tunes on the pipes that once belonged
to William F Hanafin, a fellow Kerryman (see the historical notes). "The Holly
Bush" comes from Finbar Dwyer's accordion playing and the second reel from late
Eddie Duffy - the great flute player and repository of tunes from Derrygonnelly,
County Fermanagh, from Cathal learned so much.
14. Danish Double Quadrille/ Old Comrades' March/ Whistling Rufus
A set of reels that really motor and if you have ever danced to Mark and Jason
playing these tunes you will be ready to shout 'and back the other way!" The first
tune was from a Danish country dance which was again introduced by the English Folk
Dance and Song Society. the second one is an Austrian tune which was played by
British bands after the Great War, and "Whistling Rufus" is a Kerry Mills
tune from the turn of the last century.
Last updated on 10/02/2011